The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass graves in Dharmasthala is expected to conclude the first phase of excavation on Wednesday at the 13th marked burial site near Netravathi-Ajikuri Road in Karnataka. The site is part of a chilling case involving allegations of mass sexual assault, murder, and illegal burials.
Since July 29, the SIT has completed digging at 12 burial sites. Though human remains were found at the sixth location, officials have not confirmed any breakthrough evidence so far. On Tuesday, the 11th and 12th sites yielded no significant findings.
However, in a key development, bones were recovered on August 4 from a newly discovered location, now marked as burial site 14, where excavation will continue.
SIT officers are also likely to question social activist Jayanth, who filed a complaint regarding the alleged illegal disposal of a murdered minor girl&rsquo;s body, reportedly aged between 13 and 15, without any legal protocol.
The probe gained momentum after a whistleblower claimed he was forced to bury rape and murder victims in Dharmasthala. He alleged the victims &mdash; mostly women and girls &mdash; showed signs of sexual assault and were buried naked, without undergarments. He has already submitted a skull to the SIT and sought court-supervised exhumations.
Earlier, a red blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi were reportedly recovered at the first site.
SIT Chief DGP Pronab Mohanty is overseeing the probe in Mangaluru. Activists and a retired Supreme Court judge have demanded that the probe be monitored by the Supreme Court or High Court, citing the gravity of the allegations.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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SIT may complete 13th excavation today; new 14th grave site marked after fresh bone finds

Dharmasthala Mass Grave Case Nears First Phase End

SIT may complete 13th excavation today; new 14th grave site marked after fresh bone finds

August 6, 2025 | 13:36 IST